Chocholík

Chocholík is a steel lookout tower standing on the hill of the same name, roughly 1.5 km northwest of Drnovice in the Vyškov District of the South Moravian Region. The tower sits at an elevation of 366 metres above sea level and ranks among the more popular short-hike destinations in the area of the Drahany Highlands.

How do you get there?

The easiest route follows a paved path starting at the cemetery above the church in Drnovice — about 1.6 km uphill on foot. An alternative, shorter but less comfortable option is a blue-marked hiking trail leading from the "Na žlebě" bus stop. The tower is open year-round with no time restrictions, and admission is free.

What is there to know about the tower?

Chocholík stands 26 metres tall, with the viewing platform itself positioned at a height of 23 metres. A spiral staircase of 144 steps winds up inside the triangular steel structure to reach the top. Construction was completed in the second half of 2010, and the tower officially opened on 1 May 2011. The project cost 6.4 million Czech crowns. The idea came from Dr. Jaroslav Dvořák, and the Drnovice municipal council approved the build in 2008.

A wooden lookout used as a triangulation point once stood on the same hill but had disappeared by 1990 — the current steel tower effectively continues a long-standing tradition of having an observation point at this spot.

What will you see from the platform?

From Chocholík, visitors get sweeping views of the Drahany Highlands to the north, west and southwest. On clear days, the Pálava hills are visible to the south, along with the Ždánický Forest to the south and the Chřiby hills to the southeast. That combination makes the tower an appealing vantage point where several distinct Moravian landscape regions come together in a single panorama.

When is the best time to visit?

Since the tower is accessible all year round, timing mostly comes down to weather and how far you want to see. The clearest conditions typically occur on cloudless days in spring and autumn, when the air tends to be less hazy than in summer. Because there are no opening-hour restrictions, Chocholík can be visited in the early morning or in the evening alike — sunset in particular adds an extra layer of atmosphere to the views over the surrounding hills.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for the tower? No, admission to the Chocholík lookout tower is completely free, and the tower is open year-round with no time restrictions.

How many steps lead to the top? The viewing platform is reached via 144 steps on a spiral staircase inside the steel structure.

What's the easiest way to walk there from Drnovice? The most convenient route is the paved path starting at the cemetery above the church, roughly 1.6 km long. A shorter alternative is the blue-marked trail from the "Na žlebě" bus stop.

What can you see from the top? The platform offers views of the Drahany Highlands, and on clear days also the Pálava hills, the Ždánický Forest and the Chřiby hills.